| Obesity has been an unending medical | | | | the right type of food to avoid overweight is |
| nightmare for man through the ages, | | | | a key instrument in avoiding childhood |
| especially in communities and societies where | | | | obesity. Implementing a diet rich in fruit, |
| the standard of living is good enough. But | | | | vegetables, whole grain and other healthy |
| in recent times, there seems to be a turn of | | | | food types will allow your children to enjoy |
| events. What we are experiencing now looks | | | | eating good food without the dangers of |
| like an obesity epidemic in children. And in | | | | overweight. Cooking together and eating |
| most cases, we all seem to miss the point. | | | | together as a family will make eating |
| There is so much noise about losing weight | | | | enjoyable enough without the need to overeat. |
| and not about preventing weight gain in the | | | | The ease and availability of fast food |
| first place, which is the problem.Parents | | | | restaurants is another cause for concern. |
| play a vital role in the weight of their | | | | Most parents award their children's brilliant |
| children; it's really part of parental care. | | | | performance or a job well done with a trip to |
| Understandably, obese parents tend to have | | | | a fast food restaurant. It's not wrong to |
| obese children. Not just because of the | | | | take children out once in awhile, but it is |
| genetic factors, but because it is more | | | | parts of parents' care to limit such outings |
| likely that these parents will pass down | | | | to within a reasonable limit.The sedentary |
| their poor eating and sedentary lifestyles to | | | | lifestyles and reduced activity in most |
| their children. Children are always very | | | | children is another cause for concern. |
| close to their parents and in most cases, see | | | | Children spend hours on end watching TVs or |
| them as role models. They are therefore more | | | | playing video and computer games. The |
| likely to followthe habits, norms, attitudes | | | | digital generation we live in today has not |
| and beliefs of their parents. If this is | | | | help matters. The number of hours spent |
| understandable, what about parents that | | | | daily in these sedentary activities pile up |
| aren't obese?The first problem or cause of | | | | gradually and is a sure precursor to weight |
| obesity in children is over eating. Children | | | | gain. Parents can create a healthy active |
| love eating and eating junk foods. Any diet | | | | lifestyle in their children by leading active |
| that deprives children of junk food is very | | | | lifestyles themselves and taking their |
| likely to fail. And because parents condone | | | | children along. Biking, taking an evening |
| their children's eating habits, they become | | | | walk together or swimming are activities that |
| part of the cause of obesity in their | | | | parents can do with their children. It is |
| children. As part of parental love and care, | | | | better for parents to encourage their |
| parents must learn to criticize children's | | | | children to take up some type of sports, |
| eating habit and teach them at an early age | | | | dance, martial arts or any form of activity |
| to eat just enough food for satisfaction. | | | | that will cut down sedentary living styles in |
| Making children eat slowly is an effective | | | | their children.Obesity is perhaps more |
| way to curb excesses in eating. Food getting | | | | psychologically tormenting for teenagers than |
| into the stomach takes about 20-30minutes to | | | | for adults. They don't have the intelligence |
| stimulate the satiety center of the brain | | | | to make all the right decisions. It is part |
| that brings the sense of fullness. Eating | | | | of your parental responsibility to guide them |
| slowly, therefore, will help children to eat | | | | towards a better living. Their happiness at |
| to satisfaction without overeating.Parents | | | | the end will bring you the joy and |
| should also learn to build the right eating | | | | satisfaction that comes with a job well done. |
| habit in children from an early age. Eating | | | | |